Ibuki Ueoka, a third-year Doushisha University student, once commanded the rugby field as the team’s stand-off, hailed for his talent and celebrated as their ace. His abrupt exit a year before the story’s events fractured the team, leaving a gap that fuels relentless efforts to draw him back. Behind his departure lie unresolved personal struggles, including hinted family tensions, which shadow his athletic prowess and enigmatic choice to abandon the sport.

With blonde hair cascading to his neck and striking purple eyes, Ibuki’s youthful demeanor belies the weight of his decisions. His absence reverberates through the team, particularly affecting Natsusa Yuzuki—a sidelined former star whose own dashed ambitions hinge on Ibuki’s return. Though resistant to rejoining, Ibuki remains entwined with teammates like stoic full-back Seiichirou Shingyouji and fiery junior Yasunari Tsuru, their interactions threading a narrative of evolving bonds and unspoken tensions.

Central to his arc is the lingering mystery of his departure, which strains team dynamics and fuels collective aspirations. While personal growth remains tethered to the ensemble’s struggles, the story probes the fissures left by Ibuki’s exit, weaving his unresolved past into the fabric of their shared pursuit of victory.